Antifrost device



F. C. STEWART. ANTIFROST DEVICE.

PLICATION FILED-00125, 1920 Patented Oct. 25,

2 SHEETSS nvcntoz Frank 1:. 5T

F. C. STEWART.

ANTIFROST DEVICE.

I APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, I920. 1,394,648. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I 31 I I I I I II I Frank II. 'SIewar't.

PALIENT OFFICE.

FRANK STEWART, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

ANTIFROST DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Application filed October 25,1920. Serial No. 419,340.

State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antifrost Devices, of which the following is a specification.

'This invention relates to attachments for.

the wind shields of motor vehicles, street cars, the lookout windows of pilot houses of ships, the windows of locomotive cabs and the like and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved means for effectively preventing the accumulation of moisture, frost, snow and the like on lookout windows and Windshields, so that the possibility of accidents occurring by the obscuring of the drivers vision is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for heating the windows of lookouts and the like so as to prevent the accumulating of moisture, snow or the like thereon, said means being out of the line of vision of the driver or pilot, so that the interference with the drivers or pilots sight is prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for heating the windows of lookouts and the like which comprises a hood arranged adjacent to the top of the window and one or more heating elements having means arranged thereon for concentrating and directing the heat generated thereby on the window, said heat concentrating and directing means being adjustable so that the desired volume of heat may be directed toward the window.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character, which is applicable for windows and Windshields of all types of devices, which is of simple and durable construction, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market ata reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will behereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated throughout the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1. is a perspective view of the improved lookout window heater showing the same applied to the motormans window of a street car.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same.

F g. 3 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 1s a detail transverse section ,through the same.

F1g. 5 is a detail vertical transverse sect1on through the improved heater showing the same applied to a car window, illustratmg a slightly modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates a street car, and B the improved anti-frost device or heater for the lookout window C of the car.

The street car A is of the ordinary or any preferred construction and has been shown merely for illustrating the use of the improved device B and it is to be understood that the device is to be used wherever practlcal, and as shown the street car A includes the frame 10 for the lookout window C.

The frame 10 is of the ordinary or any preferred construction.

The improved anti frost heating device B includes a hood 15 which is of substantially semi-cylindrical formation and is provided at its terminals with end walls 16. The end walls 16 are provided with depending substantially triangular shaped supporting provided with suitable alined bearings 20,

which rotatably receive the longitudinally extending hollow shaft 21. This shaft receives the line wires 22 for the heaters, which willbe hereinafter more fully described. The heaters are designated by the numeral 23 and each includes a plug 24 formed of suitable insulation around which is coiled a suitable resistance wire 25, of any preferred' make generally'utilized in electric heaters. The plugs 24 are threaded in suitable sockets which may be carried by the reflectors 26 or by the shaft 21. The reflectors 26 are of substantially saucer shape and have sleeves 27 secured thereto at their outer faces for receiving the shaft 21. These sleeves 27 are held on the shaft 21 against accidental movement by means of thumb screws or the like28.

lVhile two heaters have been shown, it is to beunderstood that more than two can be utilized if so desired on windows having a relatively great width or only one on windows of relatively small width, such as the lookout windows of locomotives or the like. The reflectors 26 are of such a construction as to concentrate the heat-rays and direct the same downward on the look out window C, and a means 30 has been provided for .idjusting the position of the reflectors and heater 23 so that the amount of heat directed toward the window can be controlled.

The adjusting means 30 for the heaters 23 includes a lever 31 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on one end of the shaft 21 which is provided with a yoke 32 for the reception of the same. The upper end of the lever 31 is provided with a right angular foot 33, the inner end of which is adapted to seat in any one of a plurality of equi-distantly spaced openings 34 formed in the side wall 16. The end of the lever 31 opposite to the angled end 33 thereof is provided with a handle 35' so as to permit the ready manipulation of the same. In order to normally hold the foot 33 in engagement with one of the openings 34, an expansion coil spring 36 is provided. The inner end of this expansion coil spring 36 rests upon a radially extending foot 37 which is formed integral with or secured to the shaft 21 in any preferred manner. The outer end of the spring 36 is secured to the lever 31 in any preferred manner. It thus can be seen that the angled foot 33 is normally urged toward the end wall 16 so that the same may be held against accidential displace- =ment from one of the openings 34.

In operation of the improved device, it is merely necessary to depress the handle end 35 of the lever 31 to move the foot 33 from out of the opening 34 in which it is seated and then swing the lever so as to rotate the shaft 21 in bearings 20. When the reflectors 26 and the heaters reach their desired position, the handle 35is released and the spring 36 will urge the foot 33 into engagement with one of the openings. The line wires 22 are extended to any suitable source of electrical energy and may be provided with the usual hand operated switch so that the heaters can be turned on or off if so desired.

In order to prevent contacting of the persons in the car with the heater, a plurality of arcuate guard fingers 40 are provided. As shown these guard fingers 40 extend below the heaters 23 and have their terminals secured to suitable longitudinally extending rods 41. These rods 41 in turn are connected respectively to the supporting brackets 17 and the forward ends of the side walls 1.6. These side walls 16, if so desired, may be provided with orifices 42 so as to permit the escape of heat therefrom.

As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, the hood 15 may be provided with a lining 45, but this lining is not essential and has only been provided to form an air space between the heaters and the Wall of the hood.

As stated, the hood 15 is arranged at the upper edge of the window and above the head of the driver of the car so as to be out of line of his vision and is so shaped as to direct the rays of heat toward the window C.- The reflectors 26 also concentrate the heat and direct the same toward the window; and it can be seen that the window will be--. come thoroughly heated and thus prevent the adhering of moisture, snow or the like thereon. This forms an ellicient and durable means for preventing the obscuring of the drivers vision and thus accidents from this cause will be eliminated.

It is also to be understood that the heaters may be of strength or size according to the nature of the lookout with which the device is to be associated.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim:

1. The combination witha transparent body, of an anti-frost device therefor comprising a transversely extending arcuate hood arranged at the upper edge of the body, heaters arranged in the hood, reflectors carried by the heaters, spaced guard fingers carried by the hood and arranged in front of the heaters, and means for swinging the heaters and reflectors so as to adjust the position thereof in relation to the body.

2. The combination With a transparent body, of an anti-frost device therefor comprising a transversely extending semi-ey lindrical hood arranged at the upper edge of the body, depending supporting brackets carried by the terminals of the hood, means for securing the brackets at opposite sides of 120 the transparent body, electric heaters arranged in the hood, reflectors carried by the electric heaters, and means for adjusting the position of said electric heaters in relation to the body.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an anti-frost device for windows comprising a substantially cylindrical hood, attaching brackets carried by the terminals of the hood, a longitudinally extending shaft ar 130 ranged for rotation within the hood, electrio heaters carried by for rotatingfthe shaft.

4. As a new article of manufacture, an

the shaft, and means anti-frost device for windows comprising ahood, a longitudinally extending shaft ar-- the hood, depending triangularly shaped attaching brackets formed on the end walls, bearings carried by the end walls, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings, electric heaters carried by the shaft, line Wires disposed in said hollow shaft and electrically connected to said heaters, a lever for rotating said shaft, and means for holding the lever against movement.

6. As a new article of manufacture, an anti-frost device for windows comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical hood, end walls formed on the, hood, depending tiian" gularly shaped supporting brackets formed on the end walls, bearings carried by the end walls, a shaft of hollow formation rotatably mounted in said bearings, sleeves secured to said shaft, reflectors carried by said sleeves, electric heaters arranged centrally within said reflectors, line wires disposed in said hollow shaft and electrically connected to said heaters, a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon the shaft, a right angularlyf disposed foot formed on one end of the lever, one of the end walls of the hood having a plurality of spaced openings formed therein arrangedto receive the foot,

and spring means for normally urging the foot into engagement with any one of said openings.

FRANK o. STEWART. 

